During the meeting, the superintendent also clarified that the start date for in-person learning for all elementary schools students isn’t yet decided.
The state House education committee passed legislation compelling the state DOE to use federal coronavirus relief money to support public school teacher salaries instead of allocating the funds for other uses.
According to the CDC guidelines, most — if not all — of the state would fall in low or moderate transmission categories and so should allow full, in-person instruction.
In a statement, Ige said the changes to the budget forecast stemmed from the availability of additional federal funds and a more optimistic revenue projection by the Council of Revenues.
The Department of Education is still trying to determine the impact of the governor’s proposed cuts.The number of jobs that could be lost has been adjusted and appears to be less than originally thought.
In order to bridge the digital divide, the Department of Education has set up mobile learning hubs in communities on the Big Island and Oahu to ensure all needs are met.
The YMCA of Honolulu is seeking financial assistance for their learning center program, which was created help students whose schools are implementing distance learning models.
Kishimoto and the Department of Education will reportedly ask board members to alter the calendar so that students return to school on August 17 instead of August 4.
The Hawaii Government Employees Association and United Public Workers said more preparation and training was needed before students, teachers and others can safely return to school buildings.
The head of Damien Memorial School was relieved of his duties on Thursday, hours after it was reported that he had dismissed as many as 20 of the school’s faculty and staff members.